Memory system

Abstract

A memory system includes a memory chip and a memory controller. The memory chip has a first plane and a second plane. A threshold voltage corresponding to multiple bit data is set for each of the memory cells. The memory controller causes the memory chip to execute a first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel by using a plurality of first read voltages different from each other for the first plane and the second plane. The first read process being a process of reading a data group of one bit among the multiple bits by using the first read voltages. The memory controller subsequently adjusts the voltage levels of the first read voltages on the basis of the data group read from the memory cells of the first plane and the data group read from the memory cells of the second plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A memory system, comprising:
 a memory chip that includes a first plane and a second plane, the first plane and the second plane each including a plurality of memory cells and a word line connected to the plurality of memory cells, each of the plurality of memory cells having a threshold voltage corresponding to multi-bit data; and 
 a memory controller configured to:
 cause the memory chip to execute a first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel by using a plurality of first read voltages, the first read voltages for the first plane and for the second plane being at different voltage levels from each other, the first read process being a process of reading a data group of one bit from the plurality of memory cells by using the first read voltages, and 
 adjust the first read voltages on the basis of the data group read from the first plane and the data group read from the second plane. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The memory system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the memory controller causes the memory chip to execute a second read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel using a second read voltage and a third read voltage, 
 the second read voltage is one of the plurality of first read voltages, 
 the third read voltage is the first read voltage that is next highest in voltage level to the second read voltage from among the plurality of first read voltages, 
 the second read process includes applying a fourth read voltage, which is at a voltage level between the second read voltage and the third read voltage, to the word line and then sensing an ON or OFF state of the plurality of memory cells, and 
 the voltage levels of the plurality of first read voltages are subsequently adjusted on the basis of the data group read from the first plane, the data group read from the second plane, and sensing results acquired through the second read process. 
 
     
     
       3. The memory system according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is configured to:
 cause the memory chip to execute the first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel n times, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, while making the first read voltages used for the first and second planes different from each other, and thereby acquire m data groups, where m is an integer greater than n, the m data groups including the data read from the first plane and the data read from the second plane, and 
 adjust the voltage levels of each of the plurality of first read voltages on the basis of the m data groups. 
 
     
     
       4. The memory system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the first read process includes applying the plurality of first read voltages to the word line, sensing an ON or OFF state of the plurality of memory cells at each of the plurality of first read voltages applied to the word line, and acquiring a data group on the basis of a sensing result acquired at each of the first read voltages, and 
 the memory controller is configured to:
 calculate the sensing result for each of the plurality of first read voltages from the m data groups, 
 generate a histogram indicating the number of memory cells with a threshold voltage on the basis of the calculated sensing results, and 
 adjust the voltage levels of the plurality of first read voltages on the basis of the histogram. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The memory system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the memory controller is configured to cause the memory chip to execute a second read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel with a second read voltage for the first plane and a third read voltage for the second plane, 
 the second read voltage is one of the plurality of first read voltages, 
 the third read voltage is the first read voltage that is next highest in voltage level to the second read voltage among the plurality of first read voltages, 
 the second read process includes applying a fourth read voltage, which is at a level between the second read voltage and the third read voltage, to the word line and then sensing an ON or OFF state of the plurality of memory cells, and 
 sensing results for the plurality of first read voltages are acquired through a logical calculation using the m data groups and the sensing results acquired through the second read process. 
 
     
     
       6. The memory system according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is configured to:
 cause the memory chip to execute a third read process on the first plane, the third read process being the same process as the first read process, 
 execute an error correction operation on the data group acquired from the first plane in the third read process, 
 cause the memory chip to execute the first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel with adjusted first read voltages when the error correction operation fails, and 
 cause the memory chip to execute the third read process on the first plane again using the adjusted first read voltages. 
 
     
     
       7. The memory system according to  claim 6 , wherein the memory controller is configured to:
 cause the memory chip to execute the first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel if a block corresponding to the plurality of memory cells of the second plane is not a failed block, and 
 not cause the memory chip to execute the first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel if a block corresponding to the plurality of memory cells of the second plane is a failed block. 
 
     
     
       8. A memory system, comprising:
 a memory chip that includes a first plane and a second plane, each of the first plane and the second plane including a plurality of memory cells and a word line connected to the plurality of memory cells, the memory cells each having a threshold voltage corresponding to multi-bit data; and 
 a memory controller configured to:
 cause the memory chip to execute a first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel using different reference read voltages for the first plane and for the second plane selected from among a plurality of reference read voltages, the first read process including applying a reference read voltage to the word line and sensing of an ON or OFF state of the memory cells, and 
 set actual read voltages for reading data from the first plane and the second plane on the basis of sensing results from a plurality of first read processes using the reference read voltages. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The memory system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 there are m reference read voltages in the plurality of reference read voltages, where m is an integer value greater than or equal to 1, and 
 the memory controller causes the memory chip to execute the first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel n times using reference read voltages that are different from each other for the first and second planes, where n is an integer value greater than or equal to 1, and thereby acquires m sensing results corresponding to the different reference read voltages. 
 
     
     
       10. The memory system according to  claim 9 , wherein the memory controller is configured to:
 generate a histogram indicating the number of memory cells with a threshold voltage on the basis of the m sensing results, and 
 acquire the actual read voltages on the basis of the histogram and an estimation function. 
 
     
     
       11. The memory system according to  claim 8 , wherein the memory controller is configured to:
 cause the memory chip to execute a second read process on the first plane, the second read process being a process of reading data using the actual read voltages, 
 perform an error correction operation on the data acquired from the first plane in the second read process, 
 cause the memory chip to execute the first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel to adjust the actual read voltages if the error correction operation fails, and 
 cause the memory chip to execute the second read process on the first plane using the adjusted actual read voltages. 
 
     
     
       12. The memory system according to  claim 11 , wherein the memory controller is configured to:
 cause the memory chip to execute the first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel if a block corresponding to the plurality of memory cells of the second plane is not a failed block, and 
 not cause the memory chip to execute the first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel if a block corresponding to the plurality of memory cells of the second plane is a failed block. 
 
     
     
       13. The memory system according to  claim 11 , wherein the memory chip is a non-volatile memory. 
     
     
       14. A method for a memory system that includes a memory controller, and a memory array that includes a first plane and a second plane, the method comprising:
 executing a first read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel using a plurality of first read voltages, the first read voltages for the first plane and for the second plane being at different voltage levels, the first read process being a process of reading a data group of one bit from multi-bit data stored in memory cells of the memory array; and 
 adjusting voltage levels of the plurality of first read voltages on the basis of the data read from the first plane and the second plane in the first read process. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 executing a second read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel by respectively providing a second read voltage and a third read voltage thereto, the second read voltage being one of the plurality of first read voltages, the third read voltage being the first read voltage that is next highest in voltage level to the second read voltage from among the plurality of first read voltages, and the second read process includes applying a fourth read voltage at a voltage level that is between the second read voltage and the third read voltage to the memory cells and sensing an ON or OFF state of the memory cells; and 
 adjusting levels of the plurality of first read voltages on the basis of the data read from the first plane, the data read from the second plane, and sensing results acquired through the second read process. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first read process is executed on the first plane and the second plane in parallel n times, where n is an integer greater than or equal to n. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 calculating the sensing result at each of the plurality of first read voltages from the m data groups acquired in the n first read processes; 
 generating a histogram indicating the number of memory cells with a threshold voltage on the basis of the calculated sensing results; and 
 adjusting the plurality of first read voltages on the basis of the histogram. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 executing a second read process on the first plane and the second plane in parallel with a second read voltage and a third read voltage, respectively, wherein 
 the second read voltage is one of the plurality of first read voltages, 
 the third read voltage is the first read voltage that is next highest in voltage level to the second read voltage among the plurality of first read voltages, 
 the second read process includes applying a fourth read voltage at a voltage level that is between the second read voltage and the third read voltage to the memory cells and then sensing an ON or OFF state of the memory cells of the first plane and second plane, and 
 sensing results for each of the first read voltages are acquired through logical calculation using the m data groups and the sensing results acquired through the second read process. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 performing an error correction operation on data read from the second plane, wherein 
 the first read process is executed on the first plane and the second plane in parallel if a block corresponding to the memory cells of the second plane is not a failed block; and 
 the first read process on the first plane and the second plane is not executed in parallel if a block corresponding to the memory cells of the second plane is a failed block. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the memory array is a non-volatile memory.